Vertically adjustable table



March 21, 1961 sc R 2,976,094

VERTICALLY ADJUSTABLE TABLE Filed May 22, 1959 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. George J. Scherer.

JMMQ M March 21, 1961 G. J. SCHERER 2,976,094

VERTICALLY ADJUSTABLE TABLE Filed May 22, 1959 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. George J. Scherer.

March 21, 1961 G. J SCHERER 2,975,094

VERTICAL-LY ADJUSTABLE TABLE Filed May 22, 1959 4 SheetsSheet 3 rftr imam. A

INVENTOR. George J Scherer.

ATTORNEYS.

March 21, 1961 G. J. SCHERER 2,976,094

VERTICALLY ADJUSTABLE TABLE Filed May 22, 1959 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR. George J. Scherer zamaw United States Patent VERTICALLY ADJUSTABLE TABLE George J. Scherer, Kansas City, Kans., assignor to Cramer Posture Chair Company, Inc., Kansas City, Kans., a corporation of Missouri Filed May 22, 1959, Ser. No. 815,204

Claims. (Cl. 311-17 This invention relates to improvements in tables, and more particularly in a table having a portion of the top adjustable with respect to the work portion thereof for supporting a typewriter or the like.

The principal object of the invention is to provide a table having a top wherein a student or other person may work in an ordinary manner and having a portion for supporting a typewriter or other machine and have that portion of the table top adjustable vertically to suit the convenience of the user, and to have that adjustable portion of the table top supporting the typewriter out of the way of the remainder of the work portion of the table top.

Other objects of the present invention are to provide a work table extending from one side of the adjustable table portion of the device; to provide a three point support for said table; to provide a frame for one side of the table having a sub-frame adjustable vertically with respect thereto; to provide the sub-frame with a table for supporting a typewriter or the like; to provide crank means on the frame and sub-frame for moving the subframe with respect to the main frame.

Still further objects of the present invention are to provide mechanism for raising the sub-frame with respect to the main frame whereby the crank means is underneath the movable table portion in easy access to the user of the table; to provide a belt and pulley connection between the crank means and the adjusting means for raising the movable portion of the table with respect to the main table; and to provide a device of this character simple and economical to manufacture.

In accomplishing these and other objects of the invention I have provided improved details of structure, the preferred forms of which are shown in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of my table shown without the typewriter thereon.

Fig. 2 is a back view of the table.

Fig. 3 is a front view partly in cross-section, particularly illustrating the adjusting mechanism for the typewriter portion of the table.

Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken on a line 44, Fig. 3. V

Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional View taken on a line 55, Fig. 3.

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the frame and sub-frame of the apparatus.

Fig. 7 is an enlarged, partly fragmentary view of a part of the framework structure.

Fig. 8 is a partly cross-sectional view showing a modified form of adjusting mechanism for a portion of the table top.

Fig. 9 is a partly cross-sectional bottom view of the modified form taken on a line 9-9, Fig. 8.

Referring more in detail to the drawings:

1 designates a table embodying the features of my invention comprising, a top 2 having a vertically movableportion 3 and a side work portion 4 supported by ice a series of substantially K-shaped supporting members 5, 6 and 7 at the respective corners of the table. A cross member 8 extends between the supports 6 and 7 as best illustrated in Fig. 2. The K-shaped supports 5 and 6 for the side work portion 4 comprise legs 9 and 10 for the side of the table connected by a bar 11 as shown in dotted lines (Fig. l). The remaining corner of the table is supported by leg 12, and all three legs 5, 6 and 7 have substantially V-shaped leg portions 13, 14 and 15 secured by welding or other suitable means at the bend in the V to the legs 9, 10 and '12 by welding or other suitable means, and having the free ends thereof supporting the table top as indicated at 16, 17 and 18, the V-shaped member 15 supporting the narrow portion 19 of the table top. All of the legs are provided with the usual glider members as indicated at 20.

This type of table is specifically designed for student furniture for the teaching of typing, shorthand, bookkeeping, machine practice and general business. work of these subjects can be taught in one room using the same furniture arrangement. It is adaptable for other uses as well, and I do not wish to be limited to any particular design or usage for the table. It Will be obvious that the K leg structure allows maximum ease of access and leg freedom under the table, and is also saving of space in the now crowded school rooms and work places.

Referring to the mechanism for the adjustable portion of the table top 3, 21 designates a frame structure having a body 22 with spaced offset portions or grooves 23 and 24 in the front face 25 thereof forming spaced tibs 26 and 27 extending from the back side 28 of the table. The body has a transversely turned flange portion 29 along the top edge provided with a plurality of spaced openings 30 for receiving screws or the like 31 to fasten the frame to the underneath side of the back of the table top 2 as best illustrated in Fig. 2. The side edge 32 has a transversely turned flange 33 provided with spaced openings 34 for receiving screws or the like 35 for fastening the frame to the inside of the leg 12, also as best illustrated in Fig. 2. The frame also has a transversely turned flange 36 provided with openings for receiving a plurality of screws or the like 37 for securing the frame to the underneath side of the cross member 8 as best illustrated in Fig. 2.

The body member 22 has a rearwardly extending flange 39 (Fig. 7) to which is attached by bolts or the like 40 a flange portion 41 of a bracket member 42 having a rearwardly extending side wall 44 and a transverse flange 45 provided with two rows of openings 46 for receiving screws or the like 47 for securing the frame to the top of the table, and also to hold the top 2 and side work portion 4 in a close relation as indicated at 48. The flange 46 extends rearwardly to substantially the inward edge 49 of the table top 2 as illustrated in Fig. 1, the side member 44 being tapered as indicated at 50 and angled toward the lower portion of the body 22 of the main frame.

The ribs 26 and 27 are slotted as indicated at 51 and 52 and slidably mounted thereon by bolts or the like 53 and 54 is a sub-frame 55. The bolts 53 and 54 extend through the slots 51 and 52 and guide plates 56 and 57 which slidably engage in the grooves 23 and 24, said plates 56 and 57 being of greater width than the slots 51 and 52, thus holding the sub-frame 55 against the ribs 26 and 27. Nuts 53 are provided for the bolts 53 and 54 and lock nuts 54 are also provided for the bolts so that the nuts 53 may be set at the desired point on the bolts and allow the plates 56 and 57 to slide freely in the grooves 23 and 24. The sub-frame has a body portion 58 provided with rearwardly extending triangularshaped side members 59 and 60 having inturned flanges Allthe- 61, 62 and 63 provided with a plurality of openings 64 (Fig. 6) for fastening of the movable top 3 thereto and holding the same rigidity supported thereon.

Mounted on the back side 28 of the body 22 is an arm 65 having an opening 66 therein to accommodate the plain end 67 (Fig. of a threaded shaft 68 extending upwardly and through a threaded opening 69 (Fig. 5) in an outwardly extending lug 70 mounted on the subframe 55. The lug 7G is rigidly secured to said sub-frame so that turning of the crank 71 mounted on the lower end 67 of the shaft 68 by the handle will cause the subframe 55 to move upwardly or downwardly in the slots 51 and 52 as the user desires to adjust the table 3 to the desired height for the typewriter (not shown) mounted thereon or other item of use. It will be obvious that the table top 3 may be adjusted even with the forwardly extending portion 19 of the top 2 and the portion 72 which extends forwardly along the table top 4 so that the entire surface of the top 4 and 3 may be used as a work table if desired.

It will further be obvious that I have provided an improved table whereby a work portion extending at right angles to the adjustable portion of the table may be utilized at the same time the adjustable portion is utilized for a typewriter or the like, or the entire table structure may be used should the typewriter be removed therefrom. The adjustability of the sub-frame is manipulated by the turning of the crank 71 to adjust the subframe 55 with respect to the main frame 21.

In Figs. 8 and 9 I have illustrated a modified form of adjusting apparatus for the table portion 3 of the structure wherein a slot 72 (Fig. 8) is provided in the body 58 of the sub-frame 55. Secured at substantially the center of the main body 28 by bolts or the like as indicated at 73 is a bracket 74. The bracket has a forwardly extending arm 75 extending through the slot 72 and has a threaded opening 76 near its outer end for receiving a threaded shaft 77. Spaced above the arm 75 is a bracket 78 secured to the sub-frame 55 by bolt or the like 79. The bracket has a forwardly extending arm 80 provided with an opening 81 for receiving the plain end 82 of the shaft 77. A washer 83 is provided on the end 82 of the shaft underneath the arm 80. The end of the shaft extends above the arm 80, and mounted thereon is a pulley 85 for receiving a belt 86 running over a pulley 87 mounted on a shaft 88 depending from a plate 89 secured to the underneath side of the table portion 3 by a screw or the like as indicated at 9%. Only one end of the plate 89 is secured to the table as indicated in Fig. 9, the other end being provided with a slot 91 having a screw or the like 92 extending therethrough for tightening of the belt 86 as desired. Mounted on the underneath side of the pulley 87 by screws or the like 93 is a crank arm 94 having a handle 95 which extends near the forward end 96 of the table portion 3 as indicated in Fig. 8.

Rotation of the crank arm 94 will cause the belt to rotate the pulley 85 on the shaft 77, which operating through the threaded opening 76 in bracket 74 will cause the sub-frame to move vertically with respect to the main frame so that the table portion 3 may be adjusted to any height desired by the user, or even with the table top 4 as in the preferred form of the invention.

It will be obvious that with the invention shown in Figs. 8 and 9 the crank arm is near the forward end of the movable table portion 3 in easy access of the operator.

It will further be obvious from the foregoing that I have provided an improved table and top structure having a maximum amount of Work space and having a portion of the table adjustable with respect to the remaining portion of the table, and the adjustable portion being adaptable to support a typewriter or other device and wherein the adjusting portion of the table is accomplished by novel means of a sub-frame structure movable with respect to the main frame secured to the table.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A vertically adjustable table comprising, a table top member having a work surface and front and rear edges and a cut-out portion extending from said front edge and terminating in spaced relation to said rear edge, a movable table top portion adapted to be positioned in said cut-out portion and substantially fill same, a back frame extending along said table top member between said cut-out portion and said rear edge, a side wall fixed to said back frame and extending forwardly therefrom under said table top member adjacent to and at one side of said cut-out portion, means securing said back frame and side wall to said table top member in depending relation thereto, a plurality of legs fixed relative to said table top for supporting same, one of said legs being secured to the back frame adjacent the other side of said cut-out portion, said back frame having laterally spaced parallel vertically disposed guide ways therein in opposed relation to said cut-out portion, said back frame having elongate vertical slots extending therethrough from said guide ways and for a substantial portion of the length of said guide ways, a guide member in each guide way and vertically slidable therein, a sub-frame secured to the movable table top portion and having a depending portion engaging the back frame oppositely from said guide ways, adjustable means extending through said slots and connecting said guide members to said sub-frame for retaining same in sliding engagement with the back frame, and means on the back frame and operatively connected with said sub-frame for vertically moving and adjusting said movable table top portion relative to the table top member.

2. A vertically adjustable table comprising, a table top member having a work surface and front and rear edges and a cut-out portion extending from said front edge and terminating in spaced relation to said rear edge, a movable table top portion adapted to bc positioned in said cut-out portion and substantially fill the same, a back frame extending along said table top member between said cut-out portion and said rear edge, a side wall fixed to said back frame and extending forwardly therefrom under said table top member adjacent to and at one side of said cut-out portion, means securing back frame and side wall to said table top member in depending relation thereto, a plurality of legs fixed relative to said table top for supporting same, said back frame having a vertically disposed rear wall with laterally spaced parallel vertically disposed guide ways therein in opposed relation to said cut-out portion, said back frame having elongate vertical slots extending therethrough from said guide ways and for a substantial portion of the length of said guide ways, an elongate guide member in each guide way and vertically slidable therein, a U-shaped sub-frame having spaced legs secured to the movable table top portion adjacent side margins thereof and a connecting wall depending from said movable table top portion and engaging the rear wall of the back frame oppositely from said guide ways when said movable table top portion is positioned in said cutout portion, adjustable means extending through said slots and connecting said guide members to said connecting wall of the sub-frame for retaining same in sliding engagement with the rear wall of the back frame, and means on said back frame operatively connected to said sub-frame for vertically moving and adjusting said movable table top portion relative to the first-named table top member.

3. A vertically adjustable table comprising, a table top member having a work surface and front and rear edges and a cut-out portion extending from said front edge and terminating in spaced relation to said rear edge, a movable table top portion adapted to be positioned in said cut-out portion and substantially fill the same, a back frame extending along said table top member between said cut-out portion and said rear edge, a side wall aeraoea fixed to said back frame and extending forwardly therefrom under said table top member adjacent to and at one side of said cut-out portion, means securing said back frame and side wall to said table top member in depending relation thereto, a plurality of legs fixed relative to said table top for supporting same, one of said legs being secured to the back frame adjacent the other side of said cut-out portion, said back frame having a vertically disposed rear wall with laterally spaced parallel vertically disposed guide ways therein in opposed relation to said cut-out portion, said back frame having elongate vertical slots extending therethrough from said guide ways and for a substantial portion of the length of said guide Ways, an elongate guide member in each guide Way and vertically slidable therein, a U-shaped sub-frame having spaced legs secured to the movable table top portion adjacent side margins thereof and a connecting wall depending from said movable table top portion and engaging the rear wall of the back frame oppositely from said guide ways when said movable table top portion is positioned in said cut-out portion, vertically spaced adjustable means extending through said slots and connecting said guide members to said connecting wall of the sub-frame for retaining same in sliding engagement with the rear Wall of the back frame, screw means having its lower portion rotatably supported on the back frame with said screw means extending vertically thereof in forwardly spaced relation thereto, a threaded bushing on said screw means and secured to said sub-frame, and means for rotating said screw means in either direction for vertically moving and adjusting said movable table top portion relative to the table top member.

4. A vertically adjustable table comprising, a table top member having an elongate portion and an extension adjacent'one end and arranged at right angles to the elongate portion, said table top extension having front and rear edges and a cut-out portion extending from said front edge and terminating in spaced relation to said rear edge, a movable table top portion adapted to be positioned in said cut-out portion and substantially fill same, a back frame extending along said table top extension between said cut-out portion and said rear edge, a side wall :fixed to said back frame and extending forwardly therefrom substantially under connecting portions of the extension and elongate portion of the table top member, means securing said back frame and side wall to said table top member and in depending relation thereto, a plurality of legs fixed to said table top member for supporting same, one of said legs being secured to the back frame adjacent the other side of said cut-out portion from said side wall, said back frame having laterally spaced parallel vertically disposed guide ways therein in opposed relation to said cut-out portion, said back frame having elongate vertical slots extending therethrough from said guide ways and for a substantial portion of the length of said guide ways, a guide member in each guide way and vertically slidable therein, a subframe secured to the movable table top portion and having a depending portion engaging the back frame oppositely from said guide ways, adjustable means extending through said slots and connecting said guide members to said depending portion of the sub-frame for retaining same in sliding engagement with the back frame, and

means on the back frame and operatively connected to the sub-frame for vertically moving and adjusting said movable table top portion relative to the table top memher.

5. A vertically adjustable table comprising, a table top member having an elongate portion and an extension adjacent one end and arranged at right angles to the elongate portion, said table top extension having front and rear edges and a cut-out portion, extending from said front edge and terminating in spaced relation to said rear edge, a movable table top portion adapted to be positioned in said cut-out portion and substantially fill same, a back frame extending along said table top extension between said cut-out portion and said rear edge, a side wall fixed to said back frame and extending forwardly therefrom substantially under connecting portions of the extension and elongate portion of the table top member, means securing said back frame and side wall to said table top member and in depending relation thereto, a plurality of legs fixed to said table top member for supporting same, one of said legs being secured to the back frame adjacent the other side of said cutout portion from said side wall, said back frame having a vertically disposed rear wall with laterally spaced parallel vertically disposed guide Ways therein in opposed relation to said cut-out portion, said back frame having elongate vertical slots extending therethrough from said guide ways and for a substantial portion of the length of said guide ways, an elongate guide member in each guide way and vertically slidable therein, a U-shaped subframe having spaced legs secured to the movable table top portion adjacent side margins thereof and a connecting wall depending from said movable table top por tion and engaging the rear wall of the back frame oppositely from said guide ways when said movable table top portion is positioned in said cut-out portion, vertically spaced adjustable means extending through said slots and connecting said guide members to said connecting wall of the sub-frame for retaining same in sliding engagement with the rear wall of the back frame, screw means having its lower portion rotatably supported on the back. frame and extending vertically therefrom in forwardly spaced relation thereto, a threaded bushing on said screw means and secured to said subframe, and means for rotating said screw, in either direction for vertically moving and adjusting said movable table top portion relative to said table top member.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 298,463 Guedle May 31, 1804 490,593 Vetter Ian. 24, 1893 518,778 Dick Apr. 24, 1894 1,116,091 McDonald Nov. 3, 1914 2,215,978 Schad Sept. 24, 1940 2,318,458 Boren May 4, 1943 2,531,925 Taylor et al. Nov. 28, 1950 2,666,679 Olofsson Jan. 19, 1954 2,721,106 Chaney Oct. 18, 1955 2,808,303 Frank Oct. 1, 1957 2,854,308 Harris Sept. 30, 1958 2,932,403 Vershbow Apr. 12, 1960 

